diverticulum
Meaning of diverticulum: A diverticulum is a small pouch that bulges outward from the wall of a hollow organ such as the colon.
Definition of diverticulum
A diverticulum is a small, sac like pouch that forms when a weak point in the wall of a hollow organ bulges outward under internal pressure. Diverticula can develop in various hollow structures, including the colon, the esophagus, and the small intestine, though they occur most commonly in the lower portion of the colon.
A diverticulum typically forms where blood vessels pass through the muscular wall of the organ, creating a naturally weaker area more prone to bulging outward over time, particularly under sustained internal pressure. A single diverticulum generally causes no symptoms on its own and is often discovered incidentally during imaging or endoscopy performed for another reason.
The presence of multiple diverticula is distinguished from diverticulitis, which describes inflammation or infection developing within one or more of these pouches, a distinct and more symptomatic condition than the pouches themselves.
Used in a sentence
Colonoscopy identified a single diverticulum in the sigmoid colon without evidence of inflammation.
Good to know
A diverticulum itself is usually silent and found incidentally, distinguishing it from diverticulitis, which refers specifically to inflammation of one or more of these pouches.
Word origin
Where “diverticulum” comes from
Formed from Latin diverticulum, from divertere, meaning to turn aside, describing a pouch that branches off the main structure.